OSCILLATING TOOL

• US 20110266758A1
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vlcko, Derek P., Kuehne, Brent A., Miller, Mark D., Goldman, David A., Sergyeyenko, Oleksiy P., Covell, Kevin W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,925,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 279/106
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/10 characterised by the retaining or gripping devices or their immediate operating means
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/19 moving parallel to the axis of the chuck B23B31/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 23/04 with oscillating grinding tools; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 45/006 Quick mount and release means for disc-like wheels, e.g. on power tools
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 19/006 with oscillating saw blades; Hand saws with oscillating saw blades
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 5/32 Devices for securing circular saw blades to the saw spindle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/18 Pivoted jaw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/33 Member applies axial force component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/3451 Nonseparable or built-in
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7045 Arcuately oscillating tool carried on single pivot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9457 Joint or connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9464 For rotary tool

Abstract

A clamp arrangement for releasably securing an accessory to an oscillating power tool can include a tool body including a motor that drives an output member. A clamp assembly can include a first clamp member that moves relative to the accessory between a closed position wherein the clamp assembly retains the accessory and an open position wherein the first clamp member of the clamp assembly is offset from the accessory permitting removal of the accessory from the clamp assembly. A lever can have a user engagement portion and a pivot portion including a pivot axle. The lever can be pivotally coupled to the tool body about the pivot axle between a first position, wherein the clamp assembly is in the closed position and a second position wherein movement of the user engagement portion of the lever causes the clamp assembly to be moved to the open position.

Claims

1. A clamp arrangement for releasably securing an accessory having an open-ended aperture to an oscillating power tool, the clamp arrangement comprising:

a tool body including a motor having an output member that drives the accessory;

a clamp assembly including a first clamp member that moves relative to the accessory between a closed position wherein the clamp assembly retains the accessory and an open position wherein the first clamp member of the clamp assembly is offset from the accessory permitting removal of the accessory from the clamp assembly while the first clamp member remains coupled to the clamp assembly; and

an actuator having a user engagement portion and being movably coupled relative to the tool body between a first position, wherein the clamp assembly is in the closed position and a second position wherein movement of the user engagement portion of the actuator causes the clamp assembly to be moved to the open position;

2. The clamp arrangement of claim 1 wherein the user engagement portion of the actuator is positioned intermediate the tool housing and the accessory.

3. The clamp arrangement of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a lever having a pivot potion including a pivot axle, the lever being pivotally coupled relative to the tool body about a pivot axle between the first and second positions.

4. The clamp arrangement of claim 3 wherein the clamp assembly is arranged on the tool body in a position such that the accessory oscillates about a longitudinal axis that is located intermediate the pivot axle and the user engagement portion.

5. The clamp arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a first biasing member that biases the clamp assembly toward the closed position.

6. The clamp arrangement of claim 1 wherein the clamp assembly further comprises a second clamp member having a first portion that opposes the first clamp member and cooperates with the first clamp member to clamp the accessory between the first and second clamp members.

7. The clamp arrangement of claim 6 wherein the first clamp member comprises a first clamp body having one of a first plurality of protrusions extending from a first clamping surface and a first plurality of recesses formed into the first clamping surface.

8. The clamp arrangement of claim 7 wherein the second clamp member comprises a second clamp body having a second clamping surface that opposes the first clamping surface and includes the other of the first plurality of protrusions and first plurality of recesses, wherein the first plurality of protrusions are configured to cooperatively locate into the corresponding first plurality of recesses in the closed position.

9. The clamp arrangement of claim 8 further comprising an accessory having a plurality of mounting formations therethrough, the first plurality of protrusions each having a conical outer surface that locates partially through and engages the plurality of mounting formations of the accessory in the closed position, wherein the accessory is positioned offset from the second clamping surface of the second clamp body.

10. The clamp arrangement of claim 8 wherein the second clamp body further comprises an auxiliary attachment surface, distinct from the second clamping surface and configured to selectively and alternatively connect with a secondary accessory.

11. The clamp arrangement of claim 10 wherein the auxiliary attachment surface further comprises one of a second plurality of protrusions and second plurality of recesses thereon that are configured to cooperatively mate with the secondary accessory.

12. The clamp arrangement of claim 11 wherein the second clamping surface and the auxiliary attachment surface face away from each other.

13. The clamp arrangement of claim 3, further comprising a second biasing member disposed generally between the user engagement portion of the lever and the tool body and that biases the user engagement portion of the lever away from the tool body.

14. A clamp arrangement for releasably securing an accessory having an open-ended aperture to an oscillating power tool, the clamp arrangement comprising:

a tool body including a motor having an output member that drives the accessory;

a clamp assembly including a first clamp member that moves relative to the accessory between a closed position wherein the clamp assembly retains the accessory and an open position wherein the first clamp member of the clamp assembly is offset from the accessory permitting removal of the accessory from the clamp assembly; and

a lever having a user engagement portion and a pivot portion including a pivot axle, the lever being pivotally coupled relative to the tool body about the pivot axle between a first position, wherein the clamp assembly is in the closed position and a second position wherein movement of the user engagement portion of the lever causes the clamp assembly to be moved to the open position;

wherein the clamp assembly is arranged on the tool body in a position such that the accessory oscillates about a longitudinal axis that is located intermediate the pivot axle and the user engagement portion.

15. The clamp arrangement of claim 14 wherein the user engagement portion of the lever is positioned intermediate the tool housing and the accessory.

16. The clamp arrangement of claim 14 wherein the clamp assembly further comprises a second clamp member having a first portion that opposes the first clamp member and cooperates with the first clamp member to clamp the accessory between the first and second clamp members.

17. The clamp arrangement of claim 16 wherein the first clamp member comprises a first clamp body having one of a first plurality of protrusions extending from a first clamping surface and a first plurality of recesses formed into the first clamping surface.

18. The clamp arrangement of claim 17 wherein the second clamp member comprises a second clamp body having a second clamping surface that opposes the first clamping surface and includes the other of the first plurality of protrusions and first plurality of recesses, wherein the first plurality of protrusions are configured to cooperatively locate into the corresponding first plurality of recesses in the closed position.

19. The clamp arrangement of claim 18 wherein the second clamp body further comprises an auxiliary attachment surface, distinct from the second clamping surface and configured to selectively and alternatively connect with a secondary accessory.

20. The clamp arrangement of claim 19 wherein the auxiliary attachment surface further comprises one of a second plurality of protrusions and second plurality of recesses thereon that are configured to cooperatively mate with the secondary accessory.

21. The clamp arrangement of claim 20 wherein the second clamping surface and the auxiliary attachment surface face away from each other.

22. A clamp arrangement for releasably securing an accessory having an open-ended aperture to an oscillating power tool, the clamp arrangement comprising:

a tool body including a motor having an output member that drives the accessory;

a clamp assembly including a first clamp member and a second clamp member, wherein the first clamp member moves relative to the second clamp member between a closed position wherein the clamp assembly retains the accessory and an open position wherein the first clamp member of the clamp assembly is offset from the second clamp member permitting removal of the accessory from the clamp assembly;

a lever having a user engagement portion and a pivot portion including a pivot axle, the lever being pivotally coupled relative to the tool body about the pivot axle between a first position, wherein the clamp assembly is in the closed position and a second position wherein movement of the user engagement portion of the lever causes the clamp assembly to be moved to the open position; and

an accessory having a plurality of mounting formations therethrough;

wherein the plurality of protrusions each have a conical outer surface that locates partially through and engages the plurality of mounting formations of the accessory in the closed position, wherein the accessory is positioned offset from the second clamping surface.